Effects of interpersonal control, perspective taking, and attributions on older mothers' and adult daughters' satisfaction with their helping relationships.

Abstract

Older mother-adult daughter dyads (N = 44) were interviewed separately about 3 variables hypothesized to affect satisfaction with the help provided to mothers by their daughters: feelings of interpersonal control, perspective-taking abilities, and attributions made about the self and other dyad member during positive and negative helping interactions. The most important predictors of partner satisfaction were mothers' and daughters' ability to accurately perceive the partner's feelings about the helping relationship and their feelings of interpersonal control. The most salient predictors of mothers' and daughters' own satisfaction were the attributions they made about the partner during a negative helping situation and their feelings of interpersonal control. These findings underscore the importance of considering interpersonal psychological variables in research concerned with helping relationships in later life.

Age Differences in Perceptions of Control in Social Relationships

“…Both Cook (1993) and Lachman and Weaver (1998) found that individuals felt more control within family ties characterized by high relationship quality. Similarly, Martini et al, (2001) found that mothers' and daughters' relationship satisfaction and perceptions of control were positively associated. Conversely, Cook (1993) found high negative reciprocity was associated with lower perceived control in nuclear family ties.…”

“…Rather, such perceptions reflect the features of each relationship. A number of studies employing different methodologies and focusing on various relationships indicate that individuals typically feel more control over high-quality relationships, and less control over problem-ridden relationships (Cook, 1993;Lachman & Weaver, 1998;Martini, Grusec, & Bernardini, 2001). Both Cook (1993) and Lachman and Weaver (1998) found that individuals felt more control within family ties characterized by high relationship quality.…”

In-Law Relationships Before and After Marriage: Husbands, Wives, and Their Mothers-in-Law

“…The older generation typically values the intergenerational relationship more than the younger generation (Bengtson & Kuypers, 1971; Fingerman, 2001; Martini, Grusec, & Bernardini, 2001). Similarly, mothers-in-law may be more knowledgeable of their future child-in-law, rate the relationship more positively, and have more positive expectations of the tie.…”

Aging mothers and daughters: Relationship changes over time

“…The present research did not specifically address interpersonal control or ways of initiating help or types of help given as proposed by (Martini, Grusec, & Bernardini, 2001. However, the conclusions of these researchers are similar to those of the present study; there is a need to elucidate some of the factors that contribute to positive helping exchanges in elderly mother-adult daughter dyads.…”